Deakin University to add 650 places as federal government wants to fill skill shortages
Deakin University will grow by 650 places in a federal government move to fill in-demand jobs. Canberra is also pumping cash into Geelong roads but fears surround long-term infrastructure plans.
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Commonwealth-subsidised university places at Deakin University are expected to rise by more than 650 in the next two years under spending from the federal government.
The Albanese government’s move to add 20,000 additional university places across the country over the next two years will see Deakin University’s numbers rise by 93 in education, 149 in nursing, 81 in IT, 23 in health and 26 in engineering.
Up to 300 extra places are expected to be available at Deakin this year.
The extra university places will be in sub-bachelor and bachelor courses and be allocated to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those from rural and remote Australia, people with disabilities and Indigenous Australians.
Education Minister Jason Clare said: “It is great to see the additional uni places we promised starting to make a real difference to students, with up to 300 commencing at Deakin University this year. These additional university places form part of our plan to address skills shortages and get more students into university.”
Corangamite MP Libby Coker, whose electorate covers Deakin University Waurn Ponds, said: “The education facilities in our region are some of the best across the nation. I strongly encourage young people on the Surf Coast, the Bellarine, Golden Plains and throughout Geelong to study locally. It makes sense timewise, and financially.”
Meanwhile, Geelong region roads are due to receive a $7.2m boost under federal government spending.
It comes as the federal government announced a review, due to conclude in August, of the
nation’s $120bn 10-year infrastructure pipeline.
Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said she was worried Geelong region projects would be a victim of the review.
“In Corangamite, I am appalled that funding for critical road safety projects such as Grubb Rd Ocean Grove and Murradoc Rd on the Bellarine Peninsula, for which we fought so hard, are in the firing line.”
Ms Henderson said she had concerns about other Geelong region projects that were meant to be in the federal government’s infrastructure pipeline, which included the second stage of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade ($250m); Surf Coast Highway and Reserve Rd intersection upgrade ($2.1m); and the Geelong-Portarlington Rd and Wilsons Rd intersection upgrade ($2.5m).
Under the local roads and community infrastructure (LRCI) program the City of Greater Geelong will receive $3.4m, the Surf Coast Shire will get $1.6m, Golden Plains Shire $2.1m and the Borough of Queenscliffe $60,000.
The projects the money is due to be spent on hasn’t been decided, with councils needing approval from the federal government for specific projects.
Corio MP Richard Marles said: “This funding will assist the City of Greater Geelong to deliver these vital projects which will make our great community even better.”
Ms Coker said: “With escalating costs, it’s only getting harder for local councils to maintain roads. That’s why the federal government is stepping in to help.”
$750m will be distributed across the country under phase 4 of the federal government’s local roads and community infrastructure program.
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said federal government funded infrastructure projects under construction would continue.
“A properly functioning infrastructure investment pipeline means projects can be delivered with more confidence about time frames and budgets,” Ms King said.
“Easing the pressure on the construction sector will help drive inflation lower and deliver more predictable investment and delivery outcomes from governments.”
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Originally published as Deakin University to add 650 places as federal government wants to fill skill shortages
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